The College Investor Audio Show

Should you pay extra to have your tax prep fees taken out of your upcoming tax refund? It sounds like an appealing offer - paying nothing out of pocket. But is it really worth it? The help of a tax preparation service can make your life easier and potentially lead to savings on your tax bill, but having to pay up front for tax prep services can feel like a hit to your wallet. One option is to allo...

If you’re a business owner, the end of the year can be a very busy time. With the holiday season on the horizon, you may be juggling the demands of your business while making space to spend time with family and friends. There are several things you can do by the end of the year to end on a high note and get ready for tax season . With only 12 weeks left, here are some things business owners should...

More and more people are learning how to make money using AI (artificial intelligence). The impact of AI on freelancing has been the subject of plenty of discussion as artificial intelligence begins to transform how freelancers operate and get paid.  With a wide range of tools available on several platforms, you can now leverage AI to improve your productivity and provide clients with cutting...

How much will college cost for students aiming to enter in the fall? The most recent data on the average cost of college is out, and we're breaking down the details. If you’re a millennial or Gen Zer, you might have heard people in their 50s and 60s talking about working their way through college and graduating with little debt. Today, that seems impossible. And that has contributed to students gr...

Most people should not refinance their student loans. However, for some niche situations, it can make sense to refinance your student loans. There are various potential benefits and drawbacks to student loan refinancing . So when you're trying to decide if you should refinance your own student loans, there are multiple factors to consider. The decision will often heavily depend on the type of loan...

If you have access to a reasonably reliable car, then congratulations! Making money driving is one of the best side hustles ! A decent car is the biggest asset most Americans own, other than their houses. And there are a lot of ways you can make money driving or with your car!  In fact, I've seen some people try to raise fast cash by selling their cars. But what you might not realize is that...

The FAFSA – or Free Application for Federal Student Aid – is required for students who want help paying for college. The application is managed by the Department of Education and helps federal, state, and college-level programs allocate financial aid . This includes grants, federal work-study, and eligibility to qualify for student loans. How much aid a student receives depends on a number of fact...

I was recently asked a question by a reader about the drawbacks of  getting a private student loan . She asked why she shouldn’t get a private student loan, when interest rates are so low right now. She would need to cosign with her daughter on the loan in order to get the best rate. My advice was as follows: the biggest danger of a private student loan is that the cosigner is also liable for...

Let's talk about $10,000... how to get there and make it happen. Why $10,000? Because it's a number that's big enough to make a difference, but small enough to be achievable by most people who set out for it. And there are some crazy ways to make $10,000, so this will also be pretty fun! We recently discussed how to pay down $10,000 in debt in just one year . One of the strategies is to earn more...

If you’re listening to this, you probably either have student loan debt or you’re about to incur student loan debt and you're looking for ways to minimize your student loans. With student loan debt balances on the rise, your best bet is to pay off your student loan debt as quickly as possible, or better yet, stop the debt from piling up by taking the preventative measures.  Many graduates hav...

Today's episode is an interview Robert had with Chuck Jaffee from the Money Life Show. He helps answer a reader question: what happens if you have money saved for college in a 529 plan, but then your child (or niece or nephew) don't actually go to college. What are the options? If you're starting from scratch, should you still consider a 529 plan? We hope you enjoy the episode, and if you want to...

Did you know that your student loans could get you fired? Imagine this: One day your boss pulls you into his office, sits you down, and says there is a problem. However, your work itself has been flawless. But he doesn't want to talk to you about work — he wants to talk to you about your  credit report . You see, when you were hired, you agreed to let your employer run your credit report (may...

A FERPA waiver, when signed by a student, allows parents to gain access to academic records during college. However, this raises an interesting question: should parents push their college-bound children to sign? Many parents, accustomed to having access to their child’s academic records throughout high school, are surprised when they no longer have the same access once their child enters college....

Low-income students are half as likely to enroll in selective colleges as compared with high-income students with similar grades and test scores. This is called undermatching.  These students are often academically talented and likely to be admitted.¹ ² Still, many end up at less-selective colleges, such as lower-cost public colleges and community colleges. Some don’t enroll in any college at...

When you’re getting ready to attend college, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of the college application process. You start by considering state schools,  liberal arts colleges , and other post-secondary options, then you apply to your short-list of schools. After some long waits, you'll start to hear back about acceptance decisions and financial aid packages. The whole process is...

I don't know what to do after college!?!  It's one of the most common questions I hear - from high school grads, to college students, to even some nearing college graduation. If you find yourself saying, “I don’t know what to do after college,”  you are not alone . The truth is, most college grads have a "now what" moment. You've basically lived your entire life to-date in some type of e...

Are you ready to take control of your financial future? You don’t need a financial advisor to develop your own financial plan. In fact, YOU are the best person to put one together. When you’re directly involved in mapping out your finances you’ll be more likely to actually stick with your goals. Plus, you’ll have a keen awareness of where you stand financially and what it’s going to take to get yo...

The average cost of tutoring can vary based on a number of different factors. While it used to be something only the wealthy could afford lower costs and new technologies are making it more accessible. For example, working with a private tutor in a large city, will likely be more expensive than working with a tutor remotely.  This article dives into tutoring costs and some of the things you’l...

Today's episode is a live stream interview with GradGuard CEO John Fees. We talked about tuition insurance and when it makes sense, and then covered dorm room renters insurance. There was some listener Q&A mixed in! Enjoy! Let me know what you think.

Did you know that you can start investing with $100 or less? Most people think that you need thousands of dollars to get started investing, but that's simply not true. In fact, I started investing with just $100 when I started working my first job in high school (yes high school).  It's possible to start  investing in high school , or  in college , or even  in your 20s . Even m...

Life during college often comes with many ups and downs. Sometimes, life throws an unexpected curveball that requires students to withdraw from school mid-semester. If you’ve already paid for classes, you might not get a refund. That’s where  tuition insurance  can help. Whether you are a parent or student, tuition insurance can be a worthwhile way to secure your investment. In partnersh...

As  high school graduation  approaches, you might find yourself at a crossroads. Should you take the conventional route and go straight to college, or have you been dreaming about taking a break from school to try something new? Either option holds its value. While fewer than 5% of high school students in the U.S. choose to take a gap year before enrolling in college, the  Gap Year...

Did you know: marital status can be a factor when determining  financial aid  eligibility. If you are making your way through college after tying the knot, your financial situation will likely look different than that of your single peers, which could impact your access to financial aid. But everyone’s situation is unique. We explore some of the potential benefits for married college stu...

Sharing a living space with someone for the first time, whether it’s your best friend or a total stranger, can be exciting and intimidating at the same time. There’s a lot to navigate that exists outside of your control: habits, personalities, cuisine, culture, and a number of other lifestyle factors shared in a tight space. You’re not alone in your concerns, though, and it’s likely your roommate...

Social Security (SS), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI) are three federal benefit programs that can provide income to Americans who aren't able to work. SS, SSI, and SDI are all are managed by the Social Security Administration. Each of these programs, however, have different purposes and eligibility requirements. However, when it comes to taxes and...